Feed-water mechanism.



PATENTED FEB. 6, 14906.

W LOUDON L J J HENDRICKS FEED WATERMECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAILzz, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES p FEED-WATER WIECHANISIW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

Application lecl March 22, 1905. Serial No. 251,473.

To all whom it Trl/ty con/cern.-

Beit known that we, WILLIAM LoUDoN and JOHN J. HENDnIoKs, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and Stateof Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Feed Water Regulating Mechanisms; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automaticfeed-water-regulating mechanism for boilers.

One of the numerous objects in view is the provision ofpeculiarly-constructed means for automatically supplying water to aboiler for maintaining the water in the boiler at a predetermined level.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a simple anddurable regulating mechanism involving a minimum number of parts andwhich is highly efficient.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainother novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, aswill be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims heretoappended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse fragmentary view of a boiler,showing our improved feed-water-regulating mechanism secured thereto andsaid mechanism being shown partly in section. Fig. 2 is a fragmen taryview of a boiler, showing an end view of our im roved mechanism and afragmentary view o i a reservoir or the like from which the supply ofliquids to the boiler is obtained.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a boiler of anyordinary type, upon which our feed-water regulator is secured.

The feed-water-regulating mechanism comprises a three-way base member 2.The base member 2 is provided with an internallyw screw-threaded surface3, which is employed for removably securing a comparatively small pipe 4in an assembled position with said member 2. A screw-threaded surface 5is formed upon the depending extension 6 of the base member 2, thescrew-threaded surface 5 being employed for removably securing acomparatively large outer apertured tubing or pipe 7 in an assembledposition with the base member 2. A portion of the base member 2 projectsslightly beyond the screw-threaded surface 5 and upon which is formed ascrew threaded surface 8. The screw-threaded surface 8 engages thethreaded surface of the apertured portion formed in the boiler when saidbase member 2 is in its normal position upon the same.

lt will be obvious that the screw-threaded surface 8 projects beyond thethreaded surface 5, for the reason that after the apertured tubularmember 7' is positioned upon the base member 2 the same must be insertedinto the boiler through the apertured portion in which the member 2 isto be removably secured. The tubular member 7 is of suiiicient length toat all times have its lower end submerged in the water contained in theboiler, but the small inner tubular member or pipe 4 is of less lengththan the outer tubular member 7, for the reason that throughthe mediumof this pipe the lower end of member 7 is always submerged in the waterof the boiler, or, in other words, it extends below the water-surface.While the water outside of the tubular member 7 may be disturbed, thewater within the member 7 will be undisturbed, and therefore obviate thepossibility of the regulating mechanism being operated when water is notrequired within the boiler, as it will be seen that if the liquid wasdisturbed or rolling in the boiler the lower end of the tube or pipe 4would be uncovered and permit of the steam to pass up into thevalveactuating expansible tubing 9 and operate the valve 1() whenperhaps it was not necessary. When the water surface or column of liquidin the boiler 1 falls below the lower end of the tubing 4, steamcontained between the outer surface of the tubing 4 and the innersurface of the tubing or member 7 will be permitted to pass into thetubing 4. Steam is contained between the two tubings 4 and 7 by means ofthe apertures or perforations 11, which are formed in member 7.

The expansible tubing 9 is ellipse shape. The ends of the ellipse areprovided with right and left screw-threaded surfaces adapted to bepositioned within the similarly-constructed threaded internal surface ofthe base member 2 by threading the member 2 upon the ends of the ellipseby turning the same over and over until the ends of the tubing 9 arepositioned a sufficient distance therein.

The valve-casing 12 is secured to the upper portion of the base member 2by means of bolts 13. The valve-casing 12 1s provided ICO IIOy

with an extension 14, having an inlet-opening, and an extension 15,having an outletopening. The inlet-opening communicates with thecompartment 16 of the valve-casing 12, while the outlet-openingcommunicates with the compartment 17 of said casing. The valve-casing isprovided with a double valveseat 18 18, which is adapted to receive thetwo members 10a, constituting the valve 10. Aremovable cap 19 is securedupon the valvecasing 12. The cap 19 is provided with an aperture throughwhich extends the valvestem 20. The valve-stem 2() is secured to thevalve 10 at one end and is adjustably secured to a yoke or dependingmember 21, secured to the expansible tubing 9 at its highest point. lAstuffing-box 22 is formed upon the cap 19 for preventing the escape ofliquid which may be contained in the compartment 16 of valve-casing 12.The stem 20 is provided with an integral extension 28, which is employedfor adjusting the stem. The adjustment of the stem 2() is desired whenthe valve 10 is not properly seated in the valvecasing. A jam-nut 24 ispositioned upon the same for locking said stem in an adjusted position.It will be seen that the upper end 25 is threaded into the yoke 21 andthat by this construction the same may be removed from said yoke oradjusted longitudinally thereof. A vent-valve 26 is assembled with theyoke 21 and provides direct communication between the interior of thetubing 9 and the outer atmosphere. The valve 26 is provided with arevoluble manuallyoperated valve member of any ordinary type. It will benoted that this valve is employed for permitting of the escape ofatmosphere contained in the tubing 9, as it is a fact that oftensuperfluous atmosphere is contained in the tubing, which, if not allowedto escape, would effect the operation of the mechanism.

The valve 10 is provided with depending legs constituting guides forpositively directing the members 10a to a seated position. After themechanism has been assembled upon the boiler it may be found that thevalve 10 is not properly seated within the casing, and therefore suchcontingency is anticipated in the adjustable structure of the valvethrough the medium of the stem.

In diametrically opposite positions upon the elliptical expansiblemember 9 there are positioned yokes 21a and 2lb. The yokes 21a and 21bare positioned upon the narrowest portion of the ellipse and areconnected to the valve-casing by means of adjustable stay-rods 27. Eachof the rods 27 is provided with threaded ends, the outer end beingadjustably secured to one of the yokes by means of a nut 28. The innerend of the stay-rod is threaded into one side of the valve-casing. Therods 27 extend from opposite sides of the casing 12 in thesame-horizontal plane, Each of the yokes 21EL and 21b are apertur'ed forsii-'1,936

forming an opening 29 for affording means whereby the nut 28 of the rod27 may be adjusted.

When the water-surface in the boiler has fallen below the lower end ofthe small inner tubular member 4, steam contained in the boiler havingpassed through the apertures 11 into the compartment formed betweentubings 4 and 7 will pass into the tubing 4 and up through the three-waypassage of the base member 2 into the ellipse 9. The ellipse 9 beingformed of an expansible tubing will expand, and as the stay-rods 27 willprevent of any longitudinal expansion said expansion of the tubing 9will be in a vertical plane. The expansion of the tubing 9 through themedium of the valve-stem 20 will cause valve 10 to be unseated andpermit of the passage of liquid from the inlet-pipe 80 through thevalve-casmg and out through the outlet-pipe 31 to the boiler. Theoutlet-pipe 31 may be connected to the boiler in any ordinary manner.While we have shown in Fig. 2 a receptacle 32, constituting a reservoir,for supplying liquids to the valve-casing 12 through the medium ofinlet-pipe 8O by gravity-feed, a force-pump may be connected to pipe 30or pipe 30 may be supplied with liquid in any preferred manner, as themanner of supplying liquid to pipe 30 is entirely optional` What weclaim is- 1. A mechanism of the class described, comprising a basemember, provided with a three way passage, an apertured, hollow memberremovably secured to said base member, an inner tubular member of lesslength than said apertured member removably secured to said base member,an elliptical, expansible tubing provided with right and left threadedsurfaces formed upon its ends removably secured to said base member, avalve-casing secured to said base member, said valve casing having aninlet and outlet opening, a movable valve positioned within said casing,yokes positioned upon said tubing at diametrically opposite points,adjustable stay-rods connecting said valvecasing and yokes, valved meanssecured to said tubing and providing direct communication between theinterior of said tubing and the outer atmosphere, a valve-stem securedto said valve, said stem provided with an integral extension, and meansfor adjustably securing said valve-stem to said tubing.

A mechanism of the class described, comprising a base member providedwith oppositely right and left threaded openings and a threaded openingformed at right angles to said openings, an inner tubing threaded intosaid right-angled opening, an apertured, outer tubing of greater lengththan said inner tubing removably secured to said base member, anelliptical tubing provided with right and left threaded surfaces formedupon its ends secured within said base member, a valve- IIO t I Y pcasing removably secured upon said base member, a movable valvepositioned within said valve-casing, a removable cap carried by saidcasing, said valve comprising members provided with depending legs, astem secured to said valve and extending through said cap, adjustablerods secured to said casing, yokes connectin said rods to the narrowestportion of said e lipse, a valved vent formed upon said expansibletubing, and means Jfor adjustably securing said stem to said expansibletubing.

3. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of' a basemember, inner and outer tubular members secured to said base member, avalve-casing secured to said base member, a movable valve positionedwithin said casing, an elliptical, expansible member secured to said.base member, and means connecting said expansible member to said valve.

4. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a basemember, an inner and an outer apertured tubing secured. to said basemember, an elliptical exp ansible member secured to said base member, avalve-casing, a movable valve mounted therein, means connecting saidvalve with said expansible tubing,and means connecting said expansibletubing to opposite portions of said valve-casing.

5. In a mechanism ol the class described, the combination with a boiler,of a base element secured to said boiler, means depending from said baseelement to the water-surface in said boiler, elliptical, expansiblemeans secured to said base element, and valve means assembled .with saidbase element and connected to said expansible means.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a boiler,of a base element, depending, hollow members secured to said baseelement, an expansible member secured to said base element, avalvecasing secured to said base element, avalve mounted within saidcasing, adjustable means connecting said valve and expansible member,and laterally-extending means connecting said valvecasing and saidexpansible member.

7. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a boiler,of a base element removably positioned upon said boiler, a removable,inner tubing secured to said base element and extending downwardly insaid boiler, an outer, a'pertured, removable tubing secured to said baseelement and extending downwardly in said boiler, said outer tubing ofgreater length than the inner tubing, a removable, expansible membersecured to said base element, a valve, and adjustable means connectingsaid valve and expansible member.

8. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a boiler,of a single, looped expansible member carried by said boiler, an innerand an outer member carried by said boiler, one of said members incommunication with said expansible member, said inner and outer membersextending downward into the boiler, and valve means assembled with saidexpansible member.

9. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a boiler,ol hollowmembers of different dimensions extending downwardly in saidboiler, expansible means secured in a communicating position with saidhollow members and carried by said boiler, a vent-valve secured to saidexpansible means, and valve means adjustably secured to said expansiblemeans.

10. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with aboiler, of hollowmembers extending into said boiler, one of said membersprovided with apertures, valve means, and means connected to saidmembers and valve means Jfor actuating said valve means.

11. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with aboiler, of an inner and outer hollow member carried by said boiler, saidouter member provided with an aperture, and valve-actuating meanscarried by said hollow members.

12. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with aboiler, of members ol different lengths extending into said boiler, andvalve-actuating means connected with said members.

13. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with aboiler, of removable members of different lengths positioned within saidboiler, and valve-actuating means connected with saidmembers.

14. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with aboiler, of expansible means carried by said boiler, valve means co-yacting with said expansible means, and members, one inclosingthe other,positioned within said boiler and extending to the water-column forpermitting of the actuation ol said expansible means when the water inthe boiler has fallen below a predetermined level.

15. In a mechanism ofthe class described, the combination of a baseelement, a single looped, expansible member secured to said baseelement, valve means coacting with said member, and an inner and anouter member secured to said base element.

16. In a mechanism ol the class described, the combination with a baseelement, of in- IOO IIO

ner and outer members of different lengths G. WARD KEMP,

C. C. PHILLIrs.

